Compiled by Bonnie Chevrier
Oct. 23, 1996
25 Years Ago
Jiu-Jitsu students earn four medals at national competition: Three members of the Pontiac Jiu-Jitsu club fought their way to four medals at the first-ever Canadian Championships open to all martial arts.
More than 250 people participated in the event held in Aylmer but that didn’t daunt the feisty students of Sensi Benoit Massé.
Jean-Pierre Amyotte won the combat division and placed second in technique in the 11 and 12-year-old category.
Jason Lariviere came second in the grey-blue-belt adult division, while Jonathon rose also took home a second place medal in the six and seven-year-old category.
His Mattjesty earns crown: It may have been pouring rain on Mohawk’s sloppy, muddy racetrack but to Brent Horner the sun was shining as he stood in the winner’s circle of the Breeder’s Crown with his wife, Evelyn and sons Clay and Scott.
His Mattjesty, a two-year-old colt owned by the Mattduff Group of which Clay and Scott Horner, formerly of Shawville have a one-third interest, won the coveted Breeder’s Crown at Mohawk Raceway in Campbellville, Ont. Friday night.
To win the Breeder’s Crown “is every owner’s ultimate dream,” explains Clay, 37. “To win it at home in Toronto in front of national television…was a special thrill.”
Nov. 3, 1971
50 Years Ago
A deep sense of disquiet: On Wednesday morning last week, the United States president decided that the underground nuclear test at Amchitka would take place on or shortly after Nov. 3.
This nuclear test might involve considerable risk to Canada’s west coast immediately and to the world at any future date.
On Wednesday afternoon in the House of Parliament in Ottawa, the Hon. Mitchell Sharpe, Canada’s Secretrary of Sate for External Affairs, announced the American president’s decision. It just happened that a hundred and four sixth graders from Shawville were present in the House of Commons to hear the announcement and the short discussion which ensued.
Mr. Sharpe, in parliament, stated he has conveyed to the American Secretary of State that the decision to carry out the nuclear test can only result in a deep sense of disquiet among Canadians.
New bridge announced for Rapides des Joachims: It was announced Oct. 28 by Tom Lefebvre that the federal government Department of Public Works would be spending over $100,000 on the bridge linking Rapides des Joachims in Pontiac County Quebec with Rolphton in Ontario.
The bridge which is 430 feet long and 17 feet 6 inches wide, provides an important link between the two provinces for the local citizens and the many tourists who visit the area and the forest industries.
Oct. 31, 1946
75 Years Ago
Local news: Canadian railways are offering reduced rail fares for the Remembrance Day holiday period for Friday noon until Tuesday midnight. It was announced recently J.A. Brass, chairman of the Canadian Passenger Association.
Timber control officials said recently that removal of United States import tariffs on lumber for housing would have “no effect whatsoever” on Canadian timber production.
Anglican Bishop Jefferson of Ottawa has appointed clergy and laymen of a committee to plan and operate the recently acquired camp property near Quyon.
The property consisting of more than 30 acres with two sand beaches and a pine-grove is one of the best on the Ottawa River. It is the site of a former Indigenous village where Chief Pontiac once had his headquarters and where he once met Champlain. It is therefore most appropriate that the name Pontiac will be associated with the camp. The camp will be used for boys and girls and young people’s camps and already plans are well underway for the 1947 season.
Canadian toys and games for the first time since 1939 will be on sale this Christmas in stores in many parts of the world. Even in the United Kingdom, where toys are still classed as non-essentials, a limited quantity will be available.
There are five toy manufacturers operating in Canada today for everyone that was in the business in 1939, he said.
Agriculture Department sources said last week there was little prospect for some months at least, of improvement in the quantity and quality of bacon being sold for home consumption. They pointed out that Canada, because of it’s declining hot production, was having trouble meeting it’s contract to supply Britain with 350,000,000 pounds of bacon this year and likely would experience similar difficulty in 1947.
Oct. 20, 1921
100 Years Ago
Local News: Mr. J.H. Brownlee is having his new residential building on Main St. veneered with “stucco”.
At a mass meeting of supporters of the Meighen government held in Renfrew last Friday, Mr. John H. Findlay of Braeside, who by the way is a native of Shawville, was unanimously chosen to contest the riding in the approaching federal election.
Whilst the Pontiac Farmers’ convention is a couple of weeks distant, the names of not a few prospective candidates are under the tongue of current gossip. All the way from Sheen to the lower extremity of the county, eligibles for the distinction have been mentioned and discussed.
Yarm man knocks out big Yankee pumpkin: The New York Tribune recently published under “Pumpkins and Politics” says that a pumpkin weighing 112 pounds is one of the biggest ever grown. Pumpkin specialists have traveled miles to see it and the head of the Pie Trust has made an effort to have the specimen embalmed. Mr. Henry B. Hodgins, a lifelong resident of the unpretentious little community of Yarm, on reading the above item, gave expression to a very broad smile, realizing that he had a specimen in his store house that whipped the Yankee production all hallow and considered the fact too good to keep from the readers of this paper. Mr. Hodgins’ pumpkin weighs 121 pounds and yet we have not heard that people have been tumbling over each other to get a peep at it. The reason is, they reside in the district which produces such things in plenty: big pumpkins, pig squash, big potatoes, and so on.
Ford cars: new prices in effect: Touring less starter: $565; with starter $650; Truck less starter: $615; with starter $700. War tax extra. G.A. Howard, Shawville.
Oct. 29, 1896
125 Years Ago
Local News: The work of rebuilding the Quyon grist mill is progressing favourably. The first story is up and sheeted in. Probably a dynamo will be put in to supply the mill and village with electric lights.
Mr. James Hodgins has the skating rink about closed in.
Mr. Jas. McArthur, cabinet maker has purchased from Mr. Francis Wilson the brick house on Main St., recently occupied by Mr. G. Donaldson. Mr. Richard Hodgins has acquired the house and premises of Mr. Robert McCredie next door to THE EQUITY office.
125 Years Ago
Local News: The work of rebuilding the Quyon grist mill is progressing favourably. The first story is up. Probably a dynamo will be put in to supply the mill and village with electric lights.
Mr. Jas. McArthur, cabinet maker has purchased from Mr. Francis Wilson the brick house on Main St., recently occupied by Mr. G. Donaldson. Mr. Richard Hodgins has acquired the house and premises of Mr. Robert McCredie next door to THE EQUITY office.
The annual shooting match of the hunt club was held on Friday. At the meeting the previous night, Messrs. H. Morrison and A.R. McGuire were elected captains and the latter’s team was the successful one by a majority of 250 points.
A seven-year-old daughter of a Hull man met with an awful accident. The little one attempted to light a fire in the kitchen stove and her clothes caught. Before assistance was forthcoming, her body was so badly burned that she died later in the day.
Evangelist Shaver opened up a series of camp meetings in Mr. Wm. McDowell’s grove about a mile and a half east of the village on Sunday last.
